Estes Forwarding Worldwide achieves an 81% reduction in insurance claims with Motive.

Solution

In 2023, EFW began evaluating alternative fleet management systems, looking for a solution that could address both safety and administrative needs. Smith spearheaded a comprehensive review of three leading platforms, testing Motive alongside Lytx and Samsara. 

Smith and her team conducted a hands-on trial with five drivers, including both exemplary and challenging drivers, to gauge each system’s effectiveness. “We evaluated Lytx, Samsara, and Motive. Out of the three, Motive was the simplest for drivers to use, and the cameras were by far the best,” Smith explained. The evaluation revealed that Motive’s system was the most responsive, providing timely and accurate feedback on driving behaviors. This responsiveness, combined with the user-friendly interface and superior camera quality, made Motive the clear choice for EFW. Most importantly, Motive’s forward-facing AI Dashcams provided clearer, more responsive alerts, notifying drivers of unsafe driving habits faster and more accurately than the competition.

EFW’s implementation of Motive was both innovative and efficient, marked by a completely remote launch. EFW installed and trained their entire fleet without any in-person visits, relying instead on a comprehensive library of how-to videos to train both drivers and operations teams. This remote approach minimized disruption and empowered the team to handle installations independently, setting a precedent for future technological integrations.

Entrusting her team to Motive’s reliable AI detection was especially important for Smith as she sought to reduce preventable accidents. Unlike their previous solution, Motive’s in-cab alerts instantly notify Estes’ drivers of unsafe habits such as speeding and close following, so they can correct them before it leads to a crash.

Starting out with Motive, EFW’s overall Safety Score was in the low 70s. Today it’s 93, a 33% improvement and just seven points away from perfection. “When you go in and look at our safety scores, you can see the changes that have taken place since we implemented Motive,” Smith says. “It’s pretty amazing to see the improvement.” 

She attributes the steady improvement to consistent safety messaging that goes out daily and an effort to drive home the aspects of a strong safety culture – things like timely coaching, regular communication, and driver recognition. Every step of the way, EFW has used the Motive platform to reduce liability, cut costs, and reduce accidents.

As safety improves, AI Dashcams are working for EFW in other ways. Recently, one of EFW’s drivers was exonerated as a result of video captured by the forward-facing dash cam. The incident happened when the driver merged into a construction zone right as another driver approached, causing the mirrors to collide. 

“The other driver claimed our driver left the lane, but the Motive AI Dashcam clearly showed he was in his lane the entire time,” Smith says. “Having the video there exonerated us, and it saved us about $1,500 that we would have had to spend on a new mirror.”

In addition to Motive’s safety features, Motive’s GPS tracking provides real-time insight into the location of vehicles and driver status, allowing Smith and other managers to quickly locate vehicles, assist drivers in trouble, or see when a driver is stationary for too long.

“The visibility and control we get with Motive is night and day better than what we had before,” Smith says. “It’s been really helpful, because we can just pop in and get a live location of every vehicle.” Smith recounts a time when a driver abandoned a vehicle on the side of the road in Tennessee. “Without Motive, it would have taken us days to figure out that the vehicle had been abandoned and where it was. With Motive, we knew right where it was and could retrieve it right away.”

Had EFW not been able to locate the lost vehicle, it would cost them a lot more than a simple mirror. A new vehicle can cost over $100,000, and a sleeper can cost twice that. Without Motive’s tracking technology, it may have taken days to pinpoint the location of a lost vehicle, instead of moments.

Results

The adoption of Motive has significantly improved driver behavior and overall safety at EFW. The drivers have become more compliant with safety protocols, as reflected by a reduction in critical driving events. Instances of hard braking, speeding, and stop sign violations have all decreased, with current rates at 0.4, 2.2, and 2.4 per 1,000 miles, respectively. Previously, these figures were as high as five to six events per 1,000 miles. Notably, speeding incidents have been reduced by 93%. Total daily alerts have decreased by 80%; from a high of 60 alerts per day to about a dozen.

Moreover, the fleet’s lowest-scoring driver now holds a Safety Score of 78, while many drivers are scoring in the 90s and even reaching a perfect score of 100. This marked improvement highlights Motive’s role in fostering a culture of safety and accountability among drivers.

As safety scores rise steadily, Smith observes that drivers “have significantly changed their behavior.” Motive’s in-cab alerts have made drivers more aware and responsive, resulting in improved performance, fewer accidents, and substantially lower claims costs. 

In 2021, EFW faced 37 claims totaling nearly $1 million. By 2023, that number dropped to just seven claims, with payouts under $30,000; representing an 81% reduction in claims and a 97% reduction in total payouts. This sharp decline eased financial burdens and underscores Motive’s effectiveness in enhancing fleet safety and accountability. In 2024, Smith says, EFW has had zero chargeable accidents.

Meanwhile, logs were easier to maintain and far more accurate, cutting down on the time required for manual corrections. The back-office dashboard made it simple to monitor driver performance, track fleet location, and ensure compliance with safety regulations.

Perhaps most importantly, the Motive platform has led to greater visibility for EFW, and thus notable improvements in efficiency, compliance, safety and fleet management. As Smith says, “Motive’s level of involvement with the customer is night and day different. That’s everything.”

The testimonials, statements, and opinions presented on this webpage reflect the real-life experiences of individuals and/or companies who have used our products and/or services. Individual results may vary and past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The testimonials presented on this webpage were voluntarily provided and not paid.